Ensign Bickford Backs Farmington Live Fire Training Facility

A donation from the Ensign Bickford Foundation is bringing the town of Farmington Fire Department closer to its dream of its very own Live Fire Training Facility.

The project has been approved and Farmington firefighters are ardently working to raise the funds. 

The Ensign Bickford Foundation, of Simsbury, recently donated $5,000 to department's fundraising campaign.

"The Foundation recognizes the importance of the job that our firefighters perform for our community, and the Town of Farmington Fire Department is honored to partner with them on this very important project," Mary-Ellen Harper, director of Fire and Rescue Services in Farmington."

The  department is hoping to reach its target $1 million fundraising goal by July 1, 2014. So far, Farmington has raised $65,667.97 in "cash and donated services," Harper said.

The Avon Volunteer Fire Department formally plans to partner with Farmington for the facility and will soon launch a formal fundraising campaign of its own to raise $500,000 in order to buy into the facility, according to Harper.

The site would be on Round Hill Road on land the town of Farmington has purchased. The town has already committed $175,000 "for the critical infrastructure of the facility, including access roads and water mains," Harper said.  

Stay tuned for upcoming fundraising events, which the Farmington fire department plans to announce soon.